Amy Baco-Taylor, 2002 Postdoctoral Scholar

Summary
of Accomplishments
I arrived
at WHOI in June of 2002. Since then I have submitted two papers from my
dissertation, one is published and the other is currently in press. In
the lab, I am focusing on one research project, examining the population
genetics and dispersal of deep-sea precious corals from the Hawaiian Archipelago.
These corals are the focus of a profitable fishery, yet little is known
about their dispersal capabilities or general ecology. I am using microsatellite
methods to address these issues. The findings of this research will help
improve the management of these species as well as improve our general
understanding of dispersal in the deep-sea. Most of my time has been spent
learning new microsatellite methods and developing useable microsatellite
markers for my study. So far I have obtained 7 microsatellite loci for
one of these species. I am preparing a manuscript from this research and
have presented the results at three international conferences.

I have also submitted several proposals related to the ecology and evolution
of seamount fauna. Two of these proposals have been funded, both through
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration. I will have a cruise in Sept-
Nov. 2003 to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to document the distribution
of deep-sea corals on 3 previously unexplored seamounts. I will also collect
deep-sea corals from 4-5 additional sites in the Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands to add to my current study of dispersal and population genetics
of Hawaiian deep-sea precious corals.

A third proposal is currently pending with NOAA NURP Alaska. I participated
in an Ocean Exploration cruise to the Gulf of Alaska Seamounts where I
collected deep-sea corals and other seamount invertebrates. Based on observations
from this cruise I submitted a proposal (to NOAA-NURP Alaska) to return
to the same seamount chain to further examine their fauna and to use molecular
methods to determine levels of dispersal in some of the dominant taxa.